CATCA 2025

As Canadians and Indigenous People, we all inherited a history together. Cadmus Delorme provides a message of hope, truth, understanding, and strategy as we all embark on a Truth and Reconciliation journey.

In today’s educational landscape, the pressure to meet standards can overshadow the deeper impact that educators have on their students. In Tom’s keynote, "Own Your Magic," Tom encourages teachers and administrators to reconnect with their passion, embrace their unique strengths, and focus on making an unforgettable difference in their students' lives.

Why are outcomes for Indigenous students so unequal? Join authors Douglas Sanderson (Amo Binashii) and Andrew Stobo Sniderman for a discussion about their acclaimed book, Valley of the Birdtail: An Indian Reserve, a White Town, and the Road to Reconciliation. This book follows multiple generations of two families, one white and one Indigenous, and weaves their lives into the larger story of Canada. Valley of the Birdtail is about how two schools became separate and unequal—and what it means for the rest of us.
DO COME EARLY TO THE SESSION TO RECEIVE YOUR FREE COPY OF THE BOOK. 

Inspiring, humorous and applicable to all in attendance. Choosing optimism—even in the face of tough challenges—helps restore the healthy interactions and positive relationships necessary for enacting real school change. Hear how teachers and school leaders can rekindle their individual and collective enthusiasm for a profession that has been progressively inundated with negativity. Be prepared to learn, to laugh, and to leave with a renewed sense of purpose. This is a fact-based, positive approach to “taking back our profession.” Research-based strategies, practical examples, and thought-provoking scenarios will be included.

What do Lizzo, Taylor Swift, Lady Gaga, Steven King, Michael Jordan....and Albert Einstein have in common? They all faced massive amounts of failure before getting to where they are today! Let's be real. Fear of failure is one of the biggest reasons that so many students have math anxiety. It prevents students from asking questions, speaking up in class, and even supporting their peers. But one thing no one talks about is this: most mathematicians and scientists in real life get paid to fail! ln this workshop we will explore the powerful role of failure in math class and how you can harness it to inspire your students to embrace failure in math class - and in real life!

Going through the motions isn't working for anyone. The secret to living and working in technicolour is right under your nose. Creativity isn't just for artists, it's the key that will help you reconnect to your passion for teaching, and unearth the unique strengths in each student. If you want things to be different, you need to think differently.Everyday creativity is a spark that, once rekindled, transforms how you approach everything. It brings more joy, confidence in uncertainty, and the courage to share your unique perspective. Tackle new challenges with gusto and find new opportunities hiding in plain sight.Creative shifts start with daily, simple acts like making a meal, building a pivot table, or sneaking vegetables in smoothies. Studies show that these small creative acts impact your well-being, leadership skills, adaptability, and problem-solving prowess. Feel like you’ve heard it all before? Try this unconventional and evidence-based approach that links the dots between creativity, tolerance of ambiguity, and well being, to boost your mood and find new solutions to old problems. In this “light delivery, deep message” keynote, discover the DANCE method: 5 simple habits to light a creative fire in every teacher and student. No arts and crafts required.Attendees will charge away with renewed enthusiasm to contribute, because they will be able to:Describe the evidence of every person’s creative potential (no arts & crafts required).Implement one simple secret to divergent and convergent thinking that will instantly ignite creative solutions.Engage 5 effortless habits (DANCE) every day to build a creative mindset. Describe how teachers can help students to embrace ambiguity in order to be more confident in shades of grey.

In life, we all face challenges that test our strength, resilience, and resolve in unique ways. For Claire Masikewich, that moment came in May 2023, when her five-year-old daughter was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma, an aggressive form of pediatric cancer.

In this heart-wrenching and transformative keynote, Claire shares her deeply personal journey of turning pain into purpose. Drawing from her professional expertise and advocacy work, she will guide you through how she reframed one of the darkest times of her life into a mission for change. With $160,000 raised for pediatric cancer research and the establishment of the Strong Like Sloane Foundation all while her daughter was going through intense cancer treatment, Claire demonstrates how even in the most overwhelming circumstances, we have the power to shift our perspective, reframe challenges, and rise with resilience.

This keynote is not only a story of personal triumph but a call to action for anyone facing difficult times. Claire’s message is one of courage, hope, and the untapped potential that lies within all of us to turn life's most difficult moments into something greater.

Key Takeaways:
Reframe your perspective on life's hardest moments.
Learn how shifting your mindset can turn obstacles into opportunities.
Discover how to turn pain into purpose and create meaningful change.

“You don’t know what you’re capable of until you’re asked to be capable.”

Join Claire as she explores how moments of hardship can lead to personal growth, powerful transformation, and a purpose that drives you forward.

Are you a high-performing teacher feeling overwhelmed by the relentless demands of your professional and personal life? As a parent, teacher, and multitasker extraordinaire, it's easy to find yourself at the bottom of your own priority list, constantly striving to meet the needs of others while neglecting your own well-being.

In this transformative presentation, we address the all-too-common experience of high-performing teachers who feel stretched thin, anxious, and perpetually behind. Drawing from real-world experiences and expert insights, we unveil the 5 essential keys to reclaiming ownership of your needs and your life, granting yourself guilt-free permission to rise to the top of your own to-do list.